By VOS Ariogbo Writer
The MACCEM Industries (SL) which is owned by Ahmed Mackie has come under the spotlight for flouting an agreement signed with Government of SierraLeone through the Ministries of Finance and Trade for the manufacturing of 42.5R grade quality Portland cement at market penetration that will ensure product availability and affordability. The agreement clear states that the company should import the raw materials and transformed it into finished products to be subsequently repackaged in 25Kg and 50kg for onwards sale to the public.
But what is seen obtaining is a direct opposite of the agreement, as the company is busy importing the finished products in large jumbo bags and packaged it in 50kg bags for sale to the retailers at a skyrocketing price even though they have been enjoying tax waiver from Government.
The agreement also mandates the company to sell a bag of cement at a negotiated price, but that agreement has not been adhered to as the company is engaging in more profiteering by selling a bag of cement at higher price with the ulterior to sabotage the Government. Sometimes last year, the company was caught red-handed selling a bag of cement at higher price and that deceitful act warranted the Ministry of Trade to shutdown the factory, but the matter was settled based on mutual understanding.
The company has continued to do similar act with ease allegedly with the protection of some officals at State House.
Our investigation also discovered how MACCEM Industries has been disrespecting the relevant provisions in the agreement especially the one dealing with the protection of workers among other things. The agreement states that the company shall develop a policy and set up a system to protect workers against occupational hazards; accidents at work and other health risks in consonance with applicable laws of SierrLeone, but that provision has not been adhered to as no mechanism being put in place by the company to protect workers from occupational hazards and accidents and that no insurance policy covered any field workers who may involve in accidents at work as stipulated in the agreement.
It was also discovered in our investigation that the company has been disregarding the labour law, especially in the area of improving the wages of workers. The company has not been adhered to that provision in the labour law, as most of its workers are being paid meager salaries for their service rendered to the company and that there is no medical facility and other emoluments that should benefit the workers.
Explaining about their poor conditions of service among other things, the Workers expressed their disatisatifaction, stating that they have been suffering in respect of their poor condition of service for so long, and that they have channeled their concerns to the management of the company, but nothing has been done to address their plights.
“We have approached the Management of MACCEM on several occasions to improve our conditions of service, but they have promised us fatefully that they would address it, but since then, nothing has been done in that direction” the Workers vented out their frustrations, and pleaded for Government intervention to come to their aide.
In a bid to seek clarifications on the issues therein, this medium contacted Ahmed Mackie who is the Managing Director of MACCEM (SL) Limited via WhatsApp; he promised to get back to us on the issues, but failed to do so up to the time of going to press. More on this in subsequent
